hab·it (hab´it) n. general or characteristic growth form of a plant, or of a particular organ. [ME < OF < L habitus condition, state < habere have]

hal·o·phile (hāl´ə fīl´) n. adj. —n. an organism which is able to grow in saline conditions, or to tolerate them better than others. —adj. of or pertaining to such an organism. [< F < Gk. álo ἁλὸςsalt + philos φίλοςloving] —hal´o·phil´ic,adj.—ha·loph´i·lous,adj.

ham·u·lus (ham´ū ləs) n.-lus(-lüs).in the flowers of familia Orchidaceae, a minute uncinate tip of the rostellum, to which the pollinium is attached. [< L hamulus small hook]

Hanging Gardens of Babylonn.pl. a series of terraced gardens constructed in ancient Babylon, probably during the reign of Nebuchadnezzar II (ca. 570BCE), and which were renowned as one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. They were irrigated by water pumped from the Euphrates River.

hart·root (härt´rüt´) or hart’s-rootn. an European perennial herb (Libanotis pyrenaica (L.) O.Schwarz var. libanotis (L.) Reduron, of the Apiaceae), bearing small white flowers in dense umbels, as well as a stout taproot; moon carrot.

hart’s-eyen. dittany; hart-thorn.

hart-thornn.1 dittany; hart’s-eye. 2 buckthorn.

har·vest·ry (här´vis trē) n.-ries.1 the act of harvesting or reaping, sensu lato. 2 that which is harvested, or the crop. [< OE hærfest harvest + ME -rie (< OF -erie a practice or occupation)]

hel·leb·o·rine (hel´əb ə rīn´) n. adj. —n. a woodland orchid belonging to either of two genera: Epipactis Zinn or Cephalanthera Rich. (both of the Orchidaceae), generally on calcareous substrates or dunes, lacking a basal rosette of leaves and bearing a cleft lip in flower with distinct proximal (hypochile) and distal (epichile) portions. —adj. of or pertaining to an orchid of these 2 genera. [< F < L < Gk. helleborinē ἑλλεβορίνηplant like hellebore]

hem firn. a term much used in construction in western North America for the wood taken from any combination of: Abies amabilis Douglas ex J.Forbes, A. concolor (Gordon & Glend.) Hildebr., A. grandis (Douglas ex D.Don) Lindl., A. magnifica A.Murray bis, A. procera Rehder, or Tsuga heterophylla (Raf.) Sarg. (all of the Pinaceae). They share an easily-interchangeable light-coloured softwood which is of use in construction for framing, flooring, and as pulp.

Hercynian forest (hėr sin´ē ən) n. a large preternatural old-growth forest of central Europe, perceived of as stretching along the Danube and Rhine Rivers from roughly present-day Switzerland to Romania. Portions remain, known as the Black Forest, the Carpathians, and the Bohemian forest. Its composition was mixed, although oaks would have been a component, and it was known habitat for bisons, aurochs, moose, and other large mammals. [< L hercynia silva name given to the entire region by Julius Cæsar (100-40BCE) < Celtic perkuniā < *perkʷu- oak]

hick·o·ry (hik´ə rē) n.1 any of several tree species of the genus Carya Nutt. (of the Juglandaceae), native to North America, bearing a hardwood useful for woodwork and as an aromatic fuel, and bearing edible nuts. 2 the wood of these species. 3 a stick taken from these trees or shrubs. —adj. of or pertaining to hickory. [< American E pohickery < Algonquian paycohiccora milky beverage prepared from hickory nuts]

high tean.Esp.Brit. a meal in the late afternoon or early evening, at which tea is commonly served with a variety of light foods, including a cooked dish. It is both a meal and a social celebration.

house·leek (hous´lēk´) n.1 a succulent herb native to Europe (Sempervivum tectorum L., of the Crassulaceae), and whose ability to grow upon walls and roofs has resulted in its perceived association with resistance to weather effects. 2 any of numerous related species of this genus. [descriptive of its tendency to grow upon thatched roofs]

hum·mock (hə´mək) n.1 a small area of treed or vegetated land rising above and within an adjacent bog or marsh. 2 a small rounded hill; hillock; tump. [< ME humm- (akin to hump, < Du. homp lump) + -ock dim. suffix] —hum´mock·y,adj.

hy·brid·par·ent (hī´brid pãr´ənt) n.1 either of the presumed parent taxa of a hybrid taxon. 2 either of the parents of a hybrid organism.

hy·dro·cho·ry (hī´drō kHō´rē) n. the dispersal of seeds, or of other propagules, by means of water. This may correspond to simply floating upon open water, or utilizing available motion due to currents or river flow. [NL < Gk. hydōrὕδωρwater + chōrizō χωρίζω separate, spread] —hy´dro·cho´rous,adj.

hys·sop (his´ǝp) n.1 any herb of the largely Eurasian genus Hyssopus L. (of the Lamiaceae), bearing opposite leaves and violet flowers, and of use as a purgative. 2 any of several unrelated herbs and shrubs which may also be used as purgatives. [< OE hysope < L < Gk. hyssōpos ὕσσωπος]